Mountain Rwenzoris are situated in Western Uganda in the East African Rift Valley and straddles also to the Democratic Republic of Congo and its conservation area known as Virunga National Park. Mountain Rwenzori is the third highest in Africa rising up more than 16,700 feet above sea level and its highest peaks rise above the clouds and are permanently snow capped.
The Rwenzori mountains offer some of the most challenging hikes in Africa. It’s advised to have prior hiking experience and be in good health before attempting to climb. It should be noted that both Kilembe route and Rwenzori central circuit route will lead you to above 4000m. This is categorized as high-altitude and difficult for non-hikers, you will need to be physically fit, and the thin air here can cause altitude sickness for some climbers. We advise you to consult your doctor before attempting to climb the Rwenzori Mountains or use the Kilembe route, which will give you a chance for acclimatization though less scenic than the central circuit route.
In a nutshell, altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the adverse health effect of high altitudes. It is estimated that there is around 21% oxygen in the atmosphere at sea level. During the climb up the mountain, the percentage does not change, but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced as you climb higher up the mountain. At a height of 3,600 m (12,000 ft), there are about 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath than at sea level. Due to the lack of oxygen in the body per breath, it becomes difficult for the body to adapt to that situation and continue to function normally. As a result of the body not being able to adapt quickly enough to these lower levels of oxygen, altitude sickness is caused. Often climbers make the mistake of climbing too high (altitude) and too quickly (rate of ascent).
Rwenzori Mountains have high altitude levels of up to (5109m) that can cause altitude sickness if you don’t acclimatize well. Ganyana Safaris recommends that you take your time to adapt to the altitude probably by using the Kilembe and to consult with your doctor first.
